Job Description

Title
Hours
Remuneration
& Benefits

Heritage Building & Facilities Manager
30 – 37 Hrs pw – worked over 4 to 5 days per week.
From £35,000 (FTE)

Report to
Responsible
for

About The
Bishop’s
Palace

Purpose of
role

Responsible
for

8% Employer Pension contributions, Death in service, Heath Assistance Package.
25 days annual leave, Training, Mentoring and career progression support, Outdoor
Theatre tickets, Membership and Guest membership to the Bishops Palace & Gardens.
Chief Executive Officer
Building & Facilities Assistant and Cleaners
Maintenance and Archive Volunteers
Management of external contractors including Cleaning, Maintenance
The site and buildings of The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens is owned by the Church
Commissioners and managed by The Palace Trust.  As a charitable organisation our
mission is to protect The Bishop’s Palace by ensuring financial stability through
engaging a wide range of people for their enjoyment and learning. The eight-
hundred-year-old Palace sits among fourteen acres of stunning RHS partner
gardens that draw 140,000 visitors per annum. The Palace is over 800 years’ old
and is Listed Grade I for its historic, cultural and architectural significance and there
is huge potential to build on the success of the Gardens’ visitor experience by
bringing the built heritage much more into the consciousness of our visitors.

The Heritage Building and Facilities Manager will play a leading role in managing
the physical upkeep, conservation, repairs and compliance of this heritage site.
Working with other members of the Senior Management Team (SMT) to deliver the
strategic objectives balancing hands on operational delivery with stakeholder and
contractor management.

Property Maintenance & Conservation

•  Maintain a comprehensive Property Maintenance Manual complete with

annual surveys, maintenance tasks and contracts relating to the property as
appropriate to the scale and scope of this role.

•  Keep up to date the Fixed Asset Register in relation to equipment, chattels

and other items within the responsibility of this role.

•  Update the Conservation Cleaning Rota to identify the method, materials
and frequency of cleaning of historic fabric, chattels and other sensitive
areas.

•  Ensure the highest standards of conservation of the property and its

contents are maintained.

Property management

•  Responsible for all premises management systems and procedures such as

Fire & Security, Heating, Water and other utilities, pest control,
conservation & other Cleaning, maintenance of any environmental

monitoring systems.

•  Ensure communication across all property occupiers to enable frequent

briefings for works to and involving access to the Palace. Contribute to the
SMT meetings and provide timely reports for inclusion to Board and to any
major building projects.

•  Support colleagues to facilitate events requiring the buildings as a resource

(e.g. filming, theatre, fairs, exhibitions, weddings, croquet, sculpture
exhibition)

•  Lead on agreed Buildings, Repair & Maintenance projects.
•  Responsible for the management of staff, volunteers and contractors.

Property Presentation

•

In collaboration with colleagues draw up a programme of engagement
opportunities such that the work associated with the conservation and
maintenance of the historic buildings and chattels are shared with our
visitors as part of the visitor experience and to enhance visitor income,
including through online and digital media.

Financial Management

•  Responsible for the annual Property budget, any delegated annual budgets

for purchasing of machinery and for delegated projects.

•  Responsible for the Property Department to make a contribution to the

overall income for the Palace Trust, through visitor income, Conservation in
Action events, lectures, tours and donations.

•  Contribute to the bid-writing process for any applications that will impact

on the conservation and maintenance of the built heritage within our care.

Operational Management

•  As part of the SMT, set out a clear plan for the department by contributing
to the overall strategic planning process, and by setting clear departmental
and individual targets and objectives which align with the overall strategy
for The Palace Trust.

•  Act as Duty Manager on a rota basis, taking responsibility for the safe

operation of the entire site.

•  Act as one of the Health & Safety Responsible Persons to ensure security

and safety of staff and visitors across the estate through development and
implementation of best practices.

Internal customers

•  Working closely with other Heads of Department and colleagues to ensure
the built heritage within the care of The Palace Trust is suitably presented
and protected as part of the visitor experience including any events,
weddings and other performances within.
In collaboration with colleagues and other HODs, ensure the property is
open and safe to visit for the optimum number of days to support the
income stream of visitor welcome.

•

•  Ensure that there are strong lines of communication across the team during

works, events and other extraordinary activities.

External Contractors and Partners

•  Responsible for supervision of agreed portfolio of small projects and to

provide input into larger projects that impact on the property management
and maintenance duties associated with this role.

Health and Safety

•  Act as the Responsible Person for property maintenance and management

areas.

•  Maintain up to date working knowledge of all aspects of Health, Safety &

Well-being in relation to the scale and scope of this role.

•  Create and maintain a comprehensive list of SSRAMS (Site Specific Risk

Assessments & Method Statements), IOSH & other mandatory records for safe
systems of work in relation to the scale and scope of this role.

•  Maintain relevant documents for the safe working and maintenance of all

equipment, tools, machinery & hazardous substances.

•  Part of the team who decide on when adverse weather makes the site unsafe
to open & recommends appropriate action to secure the buildings in such
conditions.

•  Ensure volunteers and any direct line reports are appropriately trained and

guided in relation to all appropriate aspects of health and safety.

Water Course Management

•  Part of the team who manage safe operation of the sluice systems to ensure
the water-flow is always balanced, in response to forecast and actual levels of
rainfall; to prevent damage to the property.

Palace Collection and Archive

•  Ensure all items of The Palace collection are condition checked annually and

details added to CMS.

•  Maintain CMS to SPECTRUM standard.
•  Record all documentation and photography to industry standard.
•  Digitise selected documents from the archive.
•  Set up an area where the Palace Archive can be used as an education

•

resource.
Identify items from the collection and documents from the archive that may
be used in the Palace Interpretation project.

•  Maintain Museum Accreditation for The Palace Trust, completing

documentation as is required.

Interpretation

•  Support the CEO in developing the interpretation offering at The Bishop’s

Palace.

•  Work alongside appointed company project manager to ensure deadlines

met for each phase of the project.

•  Ensure all content required is delivered on time.
•  Support with funding opportunities for Palace Interpretation Project.
•  Deliver in-house interpretation development.

Purpose,
Vision and
Values

As a charitable organisation our aim is to protect The Bishop’s Palace by ensuring
financial stability through engaging a wide range of people for their enjoyment and
learning.

Our Vision
To inspire and touch the lives of many by offering joy, healing, hope and wellbeing.

Our Purpose
To conserve and share the Palace and its story as a place of enjoyment and
reflection for the benefit of all.

What we value

Authenticity • Inclusivity  • Hospitality  • Spirituality • Generosity  • Sustainability

Key internal
contacts

•  CEO
•  Trustees
•  Bishop and Bishop’s Staff

•  SMT
•  Property Team
•  Garden Team
•  Volunteers

Person Specification
Knowledge, Experience, Skills and Personal Attributes

Essential

•  At least 4 years’ experience in the practical

maintenance, management and
conservation of historic buildings or in a
similar setting.

Desirable
•  Affiliated with recognised conservation
bodies such as SPAB, ICON CIOB or
equivalent

•  Good knowledge and relationships with

•  Experience in property management of

historic sensitive sites open to the public.

organisations like Historic England, National
Trust, English Heritage

•  Experience in practical management of

•  Practical experience and knowledge of how

historic building projects

•  Degree or equivalent experience in relevant

subject

•  Certificate of H&S training at appropriate

IOSH or NEBOSH level.

•  Leadership and strategic awareness
•  Experience of managing volunteers
•  Excellent skills in engaging with people and
able to live our EDI principles and values

•  Excellent budget management skills

historic buildings can be adapted to
accommodate modern utility systems to
better support environmental principles.

•  Experience of media engagement
•  Ability to engage with donors and potential

donors to support applications for
additional external funding

To Apply:
Send your CV along with a Covering letter to Recruitment@bishopspalace.org.uk.
Applications should be received by 12noon, Sunday 25 January 2026.

Applications should be a CV along with a covering letter giving details of experience and skills relevant to
this role.    Applications without a cover letter may not be considered for shortlisting.

Interviews will be held at The Bishop’s Palace on Thursday 5 February 2026.

Anticipated start date from March 2026.